A MEETING has been held to give residents an opportunity to find out more about the arrival of asylum seekers at the Fir Grove Hotel.

As recently reported, the hotel has closed and been leased to the Home Office for a year.

Warrington Borough Council has put together a multi-disciplinary team to ensure that the families are given the support that they will need during their stay in Warrington

Grappenhall Liberal Democrat councillors Mark Browne and Helen Speed called a meeting to give residents an opportunity to find out more about the arrival of asylum seekers at the Fir Grove Hotel.

Since the announcement of its closure, the two councillors have visited the hotel and spoken to the management company.

They have had talks with Warrington Borough Council and have reported back to Stockton Heath and Grappenhall and Thelwall parish councils.

Cllr Speed said: “We decided it was important for local residents to have an opportunity to find out more. 

“We worked with Grappenhall Methodist Church to organise the meeting, which was attended by about 150 people. 

“The speakers were from Warrington Council, whose role involves looking after asylum seekers and refugees, our local Care UK Charity and Warrington South MP Andy Carter. 

“Regrettably, without any consultation, the Home Office had simply informed Warrington Borough Council that the hotel had been selected to house asylum seekers for the next twelve months.

“The council has a duty of care to these new residents, despite receiving very limited support from the Government.”

The councillors are grateful to everyone who spoke at the meeting and they will be working closely with council officers to ensure regular system of communication is put in place for residents to allay any further concerns. They will also keep residents informed directly.

Cllr Browne added: “Local residents raised a range of opinions and concerns. 

“These included a lack of public consultation, loss of hotel staff jobs, inability to access accurate information about the Home Office proposals, inappropriateness of having asylum seekers in the Fir Grove Hotel, pressures this will place on local resources such as school places and health services, concerns about potential rises in crime, compassion for the circumstances that the asylum seekers are facing and a desire to help where they can. 

“The officers from Warrington Council explained the situation and the steps they are taking to manage this, despite the lack of money being sent from the Home Office.”